Premier League Review, Week 3.

The third week of action in the Premier League saw Manchester City go out in front on their own at the top of the Premier League, whilst Bournemouth got their first victory ever. Leicester remain unbeaten as do Liverpool and Manchester United.

Liam Moore reviews all the action in the Premier League this weekend at The Sports Lowdown.

Manchester United 0-0 Newcastle.

Newcastle travelled to Manchester to take on United in the first game of the weekend. The Red Devils were looking to maintain their 100% record and looked like they got off to the perfect start when Rooney netted home in the third minute only for the goal to be disallowed by the linesman. Krul then had to deny Mata early on with a superb save. Down the other end, Mitrovic saw his powerful header cannon off the bar for the visitors. Manchester United started the second half exactly how they started the first with Mata blazing over from 8 yards early into the second period. With United keeping the pressure on Newcastle the chances came, another great save from Krul kept Hernandez out. In stoppage time a precise Memphis corner was met with a flying leap from Smalling but only managed to hit the post. Newcastle finished the game with no shots on target and United will feel that this is two points dropped in the race for the title.

West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth

This was the first league meeting between these two teams for 25 years and it certainly did not disappoint. An early goal was disallowed for the Hammers when Reid appeared to foul before converting the ball into the back of the net. Wilson got his first of the match when he slotted home a well-controlled volley from 12 yards in the 11^th minute. Wilson was gifted his and Bournemouth’s second when Cresswell under hit a pass back for Wilson to latch onto and neatly slot pass Randolph to double the lead. The first half was such a dominant display from the Premier league new boys with the Hammers stopper making some crucial saves just to keep West Ham in the game. In the 48^th minute, the Hammers were awarded a soft penalty for a trip on Noble, Noble himself calmly slotted past Boruc to slash Bournemouth’s lead in half. Within five minutes the game was all level, Kouyate was first to the ball after a smart save from Boruc and slotted into an empty net. The game was end to end stuff when in the 66^th minute Bournemouth crept back ahead, Pugh beat Randolph from 18 yards with a stunning curling effort. In the 79^th minute Jenkinson had his afternoon abruptly ended as he saw red for a tug on Gradal in the area. Wilson stepped up and slotted past Randolph to secure his first ever senior hat-trick. Maiga got one back in the 82^nd minute after beating two players before slotting past Buroc to set up a nervy finish for the away fans but Bournemouth managed to hold on and get their first points of the season.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Aston Villa

Palace entertained Villa on Saturday which saw a late Sako strike win the points for the home team. The first half was a very tight affair with both teams defending with ease, Grealish coming close for the visitors from a tight angle. At the start of the second half Palace had a goal rightly disallowed for offside,  when Gayle’s deflected shot hit McCarthur and flew into the back of the net. The deadlock was finally broken in the 71^st minute when Dann met Puncheon’s corner with a wonderfully timed header. Six minute later and Palace were back on level terms thanks to a Souare own goal, Amavi saw his dangerous cross deflected into the net by the Palace full back. Palace managed to pinch the points in the 87^th minute when Sako beat the keeper with a powerful shot just outside the box.

Sunderland 1-1 Swansea

Swansea travelled up North to take on a struggling Sunderland side that saw the home team pick up their first points of the campaign. The first half was a quiet one until the red hot Gomis beat Pantilimon in first half stoppage time. Swansea were unlucky not to double their lead when Ayew saw his great effort smash off the bar. Two thirds into the match and Defoe had the home team on level terms with a smart finish that left Fabianski rooted to the ground. A moment of controversy when the ball flew onto the Swansea skippers hand but claims of a penalty were turned down by Neil Swarbrick. Pantilimon assured that Sunderland would be finishing the match with a point when he kept out a powerful Gomis header in the latter stages of the game.

Leicester City 1-1 Tottenham

Tottenham travelled to the high flying Leicester City in search of their first league win this campaign. Dembele saw his early shot well kept out by Schmeichel, moments later at the other end Mahrez should have been awarded a penalty after a blatant foul by Vertonghen, the Belgian pulling the forward down inside the area. Half way through the second period Mahrez saw his strike come off the post and back into play. The deadlock wasn’t broken until the 81^st minute when Chadli put a delicate ball over the top for Alli to head in and give Spurs the lead late on, one minute later and we were all level. Vardy saw his header brought down well by Mahrez to curl one past Lloris. The French keeper then made sure Tottenham weren’t going home empty handed by keeping Morgan out late on.